Citing 'Branding Opportunity,' LSU Breaks With Tradition

My philosophy regarding football uniforms is pretty simple: Don't mess with the classics.

I mean, think about it. The best uniforms in college football—in fact, the best uniforms in all of sports—are the old-school ones: Penn State's plain road whites. Nebraska's understated 'N.' Notre Dame's gold helmets. Oregon's ... oh wait, nevermind.

LSU has always boasted some pretty awesome unis, too. The purple and gold shoulder stripes. The one-of-a-kind helmet design with both tiger logo and arched 'LSU' text. It all worked so perfectly. I mean, those unis were easily among Top 10 in the country. Maybe even Top 5.

So I have to wonder why officials at LSU feel it necessary to mess with them.

The school announced this week that, for the first time in school history, "LSU" text would be added to the front of the team's jerseys. Previously, there was no such wording—though I doubt anyone really had trouble identifying the Tigers on gameday.

School officials cited a "branding opportunity" as the reason for the change.

Explained equipment manager Greg Stringfellow: “With the new SEC television contracts that require every game to be televised, this is another branding opportunity for LSU and our football program. Nothing else changes about the jersey. We make subtle changes from time to time but we are very aware of our history and the tradition with our uniforms and we won’t do anything to take away from that.”

Uh, Greg?

You just did.

Photo: LSU's uniforms were among the best in all of sports. So, of course, the school is changing them. (Kevin X. Cox/Getty Images)